An Indiana man is recovering after being attacked by a bear at Denali National Park and Preserve, park officials said.
In a news release, the 55-year-old man, who was not identified, was in stable condition in a Fairbanks hospital.
According to the National Park Service, the man was hiking alone Monday night in the park’s Thoroughfare Pass. The victim told authorities he was hiking through dense fog when a grizzly with two young cubs charged, knocking him down.
The man was able to repel the animal by using bear spray but suffered puncture wounds to his calf, left ribs and shoulder, park officials said.
According to the victim, the bears left quickly after the attack. The man was able to walk 1.5 miles to a visitor center, where he was taken to a park bus where medical personnel administered first aid, according to The Associated Press.
The man was later taken to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, which is about 120 miles from the park, according to the AP.
“Female bears with cubs are naturally defensive of their young, especially when surprised,” the National Park Service said in its news release. “There is no indication that this bear is unusually dangerous.”
